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5 Tips for Birmingham ‘Solopreneurs’ to Grow Their Businesses in 2026

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Birmingham Times
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If you want to become a solopreneur or enhance your current offerings, look for a need in Birmingham and start by writing or refining a business description to outline your goals and strategy. (JPMorganChase)

Sponsored by JPMorganChase 

 You’ve put in the late nights, the weekends and the hustle. And now, what started as an opportunity to make extra money has turned into an enterprise with real potential.

If you handle everything on your own – logistics, production, marketing, finances and everything in between – you’re part of a growing group of entrepreneurs nicknamed “solopreneurs.” While the image of a small business often includes an owner and a few employees, for many entrepreneurs, “solopreneurship” makes the most sense for their business model and goals.

If you’re considering the solopreneur life or have already launched your business, here are five helpful tips for you to grow your business in 2026.

  • Identify or solidify a business opportunity.

If you want to become a solopreneur or enhance your current offerings, look for a need in Birmingham or come up with an innovative idea. Maybe it’s a service that can help others or a product that could enhance or simplify their lives.

Once you have your big idea, careful planning and preparation can give your startup its best shot at becoming a success. That can include researching your industry’s trends to see if you’re meeting a niche or a growing need. Look for long-term demand and understand your total addressable market, not just seasonal or trendy success.

  • Make a business plan.

Start by writing or refining a business description to outline your goals and strategy. Your plan doesn’t have to be long, but it should outline your mission, goals, competitive analysis, marketing approach and financial forecasts.

If you’re already running a business, examine your customer base. Do you have repeat customers? Are they referring others to you? Side hustles that work have a steady and growing customer base. If yours does, it’s a positive sign your business may be ready for the next step.

  • Maximize savings to impact growth.

Many entrepreneurs use some personal savings to get their businesses started but also pursue business lines of credit or small business loans to fund equipment and marketing plans. No matter how you get started, prioritizing saving along the way will help secure the funds you need to get your business up and running. One powerful tool for solo entrepreneurs is the new Solo 401(k) from JPMorganChase. This plan is designed for business owners without full-time employees, apart from their spouse, and allows for high annual contributions — up to $72,000 for themselves and their spouse — with both pre-tax and Roth options.

The key is consistency. According to data from Chase, while Solo 401(k) accounts are a popular choice for self-employed business owners, 70% didn’t contribute in the past year. Building small, sustainable habits — such as setting up automatic monthly contributions or scheduling quarterly check-ins with a financial advisor — can strengthen follow-through. Over time, these simple actions add up, helping ensure Solo 401(k) accounts reach their full potential and deliver meaningful long-term results.

You could also look for additional financing from angel investors—wealthy individuals that can provide small investments, usually in the very early stages of a business. Angel investors accept more risk but want an ownership stake. Crowdfunding can also be beneficial for solopreneurs. With the right product and approach, you can raise small dollar amounts from a large pool of individual online backers with the bonus of connecting with your target customers early on.

  • Develop your marketing and brand strategy.

Define your brand voice and value proposition and choose the right marketing channels for growth. You might explore channels such as social media, email marketing or paid advertising. As you set a realistic marketing budget, consider the cost of tools, advertising and outsourced services like graphic design or content writing. Start small, measure results and scale what works.

You should also build a strong network to find mentors who can provide startup advice. Stay focused on your target audience so you can market to them effectively.

  • Plan for growth and operations.

The logistical side of entrepreneurship includes thinking about order fulfillment, customer service, project management and scheduling. Invest in the right tools to streamline daily operations, improve customer experience and save time.

A final note:  Self-employment comes with new tax responsibilities, including quarterly estimated taxes and self-employment tax. You may also need to collect and remit sales tax, depending on your industry—and you could have to pay sales tax in all the states where your goods or services are sold.

You may already be operating as a sole proprietor, but going full time could mean exploring a more formal business structure. While creating an LLC for your side hustle is common, consider which structure best supports your long-term goals and legal needs. Depending on your industry, you may need licenses, permits, insurance, contracts or compliance paperwork before you can legally or safely scale operations.

If you want more assistance in taking your solo business to the next level, your local financial institution has resources that can help. You can also reach out to a Chase business banker today for more information and advice.

If you want more assistance in taking your solo business to the next level, your local financial institution has resources that can help. You can also reach out to a Chase business banker today for more information and advice.

This article is for Informational/Educational Purposes Only: The opinions expressed in this article may differ from the official policy or position of (or endorsement by) JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Opinions and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendations for any individual or business. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Deposit products provided JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

ABOUT EVERYDAY 401(k) BY J.P. MORGAN

Everyday 401(k) is a recordkeeping service available to customers. This service is provided by JPMorgan Invest Holdings, LLC (JPMIH). After enrolling in the service, customers are directed to J.P. Morgan Asset Management for investments. All investments made will be tracked by the recordkeeping service. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, investment, accounting, legal or tax advice. It is educational in nature and not designed to be a recommendation for any specific investment product, strategy, plan feature or other purposes. The information is shown for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Certain recordkeeping and related services for plans may be provided on behalf of JPMIH by Vestwell Holdings Inc. Vestwell Holdings Inc. provides various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services on its proprietary recordkeeping platform to support tax-qualified retirement plans. To learn more about Vestwell Holdings Inc. and its services, please visit vestwell.com. J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the brand name for the asset management business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates worldwide. If you are a person with a disability and need additional support in viewing the material, please call 1-800-343-1113 for assistance. Telephone calls and electronic communications may be monitored and/or recorded. Personal data will be collected, stored and processed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management in accordance with our privacy policies. Material ID 07392dc3-eca2-11f0-8416-5182a1487a0d

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Birmingham Residents Urged to Prepare Homes for Freezing Temps

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Birmingham Times
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Streamline Plumbing and Drain said a few simple steps like dripping a faucet can help save thousands of dollars when it gets cold out. (Adobe Stock)

Much colder air will roll into the Deep South Wednesday night and Thursday which could lead to some headaches at home if proper preparations are not taken.

Streamline Plumbing and Drain said a few simple steps like dripping a faucet or opening cabinet doors can help save thousands of dollars when it gets cold out.

“Somewhat of a steady drip,” said Christian Sumpter, owner of Streamline Plumbing and Drain. “Doesn’t have to be a large stream of water. Just enough to keep the water somewhat moving. Whenever it sits stationary is when it will freeze and expand.”

Sumpter said it doesn’t take long for a pipe to freeze and burst in below freezing temperatures, which can make the winter a busy time for him.

“It can vary, but you can see it anywhere in the 10-20 calls,” Sumpter said. “Or if it’s really bad, it can even be up to 100 calls. More than you could get to.”

Sumpter said making sure water stays flowing through your pipes in the cold is the best way to prevent it from freezing.

“If you have a single handle faucet, I always like to put it right in the middle, so it’ll draw a little bit of water from the hot and cold,” Sumpter said. “So it’ll keep both sides of the system moving. They do say hot side freezes faster than cold.”

While doing prep work inside the home is a good step, Sumpter wants people to know that’s not where the biggest issues will happen.

“Have your pipes insulated if they’re exposed to any outside elements or exterior walls,” Sumpter said. “They’re supposed to be insulated. So if they’re not, you definitely want to look into that.”

“Some of the quickest and easiest things we would recommend here at Ace would be maybe some faucet covers to keep your lines from freezing,” said Ace Hardware Assistant Manager Jake Allen. “Also, we do sell pipe wrapping so for the pipe itself. It’s kind of like pool noodle material. You can just put it up on there.”

Like plumbers, the colder it gets, the busier the hardware store becomes.

“These are the faucet protectors. We’ve got a few different types,” Allen said. “We’ve got your generic type, and then we’ve got your hard plastic covered one. It’s a little bit more expensive, but it’s more protective so those are two good options. Outdoor faucets, any outdoor faucets, you want to keep them covered.”

Mountain Brook resident Harrison Peer said short stints of cold weather don’t worry him quite as much as long periods of freezing weather, but he still stays prepared to avoid costly emergencies like burst pipes.

“If you have the supplies, if you don’t have to run to a hardware store, 15 minutes,” Peer said. “Just knowing where everything is probably the most important thing.”

Trisha Dodson from Mountain Brook said she takes the outdoor precautions for protecting her pipes and goes a step further for one portion of her property.

“We actually have a fountain, and we put a cover over it and keep it running on the hope that it won’t totally freeze like using a dripping faucet,” Dodson said.

Streamline Plumbing and Drain said taking preventative measures is the best way to make sure your home won’t have an emergency as the temperatures get colder.

TikTok’s “Queen Leora” Reigns Over Her Growing Birmingham Empire

By
Birmingham Times
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For millions of TikTok viewers, Leora “Queen Leora” Byrd is known for her wig installs, unfiltered humor and unmistakable voiceovers. (Provided)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

By the time Leora “Queen Leora” Byrd’s phone starts buzzing with direct messages asking her to post again on her social media platforms she’s often already booked, traveling between cities or working behind the scenes on her next move.

For millions of TikTok viewers, Byrd is known for her wig installs, unfiltered humor and unmistakable voiceovers. But for Byrd, the journey has always been about much more than going viral.

“I was already doing hair, and I was already in love with the hair culture,” Byrd, 27, said. “Growing up, I was always in the hair salon.”

That love followed her onto TikTok during the early days of the platform, just as hair content began gaining traction. Byrd had already been recording herself making and coloring wigs, silk presses and installs, posting videos consistently long before she realized she was building something bigger.

“When I saw TikTok and I saw that they were doing hair content, I’m like, ‘I could do that, that’s what I do all the time,’” she said.

Her first TikTok video took off almost immediately. “It got like almost 10,000 likes or something in a span of an hour,” said Byrd, who now has 2.8 million followers on TikTok (@thequeenleora) and nearly a million on Instagram (@leoraasqueendome). “And my heart dropped. I’m like, ‘Hold on. Wait a minute now.’”

Candor

What set Byrd apart wasn’t just her skill, but her authenticity. One of her most recognizable trademarks — candid, often hilarious voiceovers — came by accident.

“I tried to do the voiceover over and over again, and I just was so irritated,” she said. “I literally said, ‘What it do, bitch?’ … I was so mad I was saying anything that came to mind. And it actually worked.”

None of Byrd’s content is scripted. “I just record me getting my hair done… and then I sit there and just say whatever come to my mind.”

Before TikTok fame, Byrd was already thinking long-term. She began doing hair in 2018 and enrolled in cosmetology school not because she wanted to stay behind the chair forever, but because she wanted credibility.

“It was never for me to do hair. It was just for me to own my own salon,” Byrd said. “You gotta be a student before you can really be a master.”

That vision is now becoming a reality. Byrd, a registered cosmetician, recently announced her upcoming salon in Birmingham’s Lakeview area, featuring eight independent suites for stylists.

“I just want to make sure everything is perfect,” she said. “You gotta protect your dream. You can’t tell everybody everything.”

At Home

For Byrd, Birmingham is more than a business location — it’s home.

“Being in Birmingham just made me feel comfortable,” she said. “Ain’t nothing like home… I want to be able to have something here that says my name.”

Behind the confidence viewers see online, Byrd says she still faces doubt and pressure. “Sometimes people will think like, ‘Oh, you got it together. You already know what you gonna do. I’m human just like everybody else.”

Her grounding force, she says, is faith.

“I always try to reinforce like everything happens for a reason,” Byrd said. “You have to walk by faith… As long as you truly believe that God is gonna do everything. He said, He was gonna do, it’s gonna happen.”

That same honesty extends to the brands she works with and the advice she gives her audience. “I kind of got a little popular just from telling the truth,” Byrd said. “Whether it’s quality or whether it’s not, I just pride myself on being authentic.”

As her platform continues to grow, Byrd shows no signs of slowing down.

“This is definitely not the end,” she said. “It’s only the beginning.”

For many of her followers, especially young women watching from Birmingham and beyond — Byrd represents proof that success doesn’t have to look polished to be powerful.

“People genuinely enjoy [what I do],” she said. “And I have to remind myself of that.”

Followers Queen Leora on TikTok (@thequeenleora) and Instagram (@leoraasqueendome).

Jacqueline Allen Trimble, English Professor at HBCU, to Serve as New Poet Laureate for State of Alabama

By
Birmingham Times
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Jacqueline Allen Trimble is an award-winning poet and professor of English and chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University. (Jerry Siegel)

By Javacia Harris Bower | Alabama News Center

This month, Jacqueline Allen Trimble – an award-winning poet and professor of English and chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University – will be commissioned by Gov. Kay Ivey as the new poet laureate for the state of Alabama. Trimble was selected for the role by the Alabama Writers’ Cooperative in September.

“Your job is to support, promote, and encourage, the poets of the State of Alabama,” Trimble said, explaining the core of her duties in the new role, which will span four years. “I think that Alabama has some of the most brilliant poets writing today, and I think that they don’t get enough national attention.”

Trimble’s goal is to do what she can during her four years as poet laureate to change that.

Trimble, who succeeds Ashley M. Jones the youngest and first African American to serve as Alabama Poet Laureate, is the author of two award-winning poetry collections: “American Happiness,” which won the Balcones Poetry Prize, and “How to Survive the Apocalypse,” which was named one of the ten best poetry books of 2022 by the New York Public Library.  She is a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, a Cave Canem Fellow, and a two-time Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellow. Her poems have appeared in countless literary journals, too.

But these accolades alone are not what made Trimble stand out from other candidates for Alabama’s poet laureate position.

“As an NEA and a Cave Canem Fellow who is widely published and celebrated, Jackie, of course, stood out for her vast accomplishments,” said Tina Mozelle Braziel, a Birmingham-based poet who served on the selection committee. “Even more impressive is how Jackie is a truth-teller. She skillfully uses humor and compassion in her poetry to ready her audience for the truths we need to hear.”

To celebrate her selection as Alabama Poet Laureate and the re-release of her first book, “American Happiness,” Trimble’s publisher NewSouth Books hosted a reading and reception in her honor. (contributed)

Trimble says her mantra is simple: The truth will set you free.  She describes most of her poetry as “political,” though she said she uses history and humor to tackle tough topics.

“I always think that there’s a way to say something to anybody, to invite them into a conversation,” she said. “I don’t always know what the answer is. I know what the questions are. And I think asking questions invites people to ask their own questions.”

That said, Trimble isn’t worried if what she writes offends others – even in today’s political climate.

“I don’t think an artist can be worried about those things,” she said. “I’m not an advertisement. My job is not to offend the fewest number of people so I can sell hamburgers and cars. My job is a poet. Poets observe. Poets chronicle. Poets are truth tellers.”

Writers write

Trimble believes she was born to write.

“I always tell people I rolled out of the womb a writer,” Trimble said. “I just was waiting to learn how to read, and then it was on! Pretty much as soon as I learned to read, I started writing.”

Trimble has written essays and episodes for South African soap operas.

“But poetry was my first love,” she said. “My mother had this collection called the ‘Harvard Classics’ that is basically an encyclopedia of all of Western literature, from Plato through modernism. They’re mostly poets and I spent my childhood reading those things. I fell in love with T.S. Eliot and Edgar Allan Poe.”

She recalled memorizing Eliot’s “The Naming of Cats” when she was in the 4th or 5th grade.

“Now I’m not going to pretend that when I was 10 years old, I had any idea what these people were talking about, but I knew it was beautiful and it was transforming,” Trimble said. “For me, poems were like incantations and I said, ‘I want to do that.’”

But life had different plans. Instead of pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing, Trimble earned a PhD in English. And instead of being a writer, she devoted her career to teaching. For nearly 30 years, she put writing on the back burner.

It was my husband who said to me, ‘You have to start writing again,’” Trimble shared. “He said, ‘Writers write. You’re unhappy, and you are never going to be happy unless you write poetry.’ And so, I started writing poetry.”

Along with her husband, she also got encouragement from colleagues and from a weeklong workshop she did with renowned writer Marge Piercy.

“She went through my poems, talked to me about them, and then she gave me the nod – ‘You’re a poet.’ That was all I needed and I haven’t stopped writing since.”

Poetry for the people

As poet laureate, Trimble hopes to use technology to help shine a spotlight on local talent.

“One of the things I want to do is create an electronic archive that chronicles the career of every poet in this state and that gives a sample of their work and their bio that will be easily accessible and free,” she explained.

The archive will then be promoted on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

“The idea is to have a short interview of the poet, have the poet to present his, her or their work, and then to have a bio and some links where you can find more about this person,” she said.

But this will be just a small part of her duties over the next four years. Poet laureates are often asked to perform poetry and teach workshops across the state and are commissioned to write original work for special events. Even before being sworn as poet laureate, her spring 2026 schedule has already begun to fill up.

Trimble is ready for the busy season ahead and confident she’ll be able to balance it all with her role at Alabama State University.

“Anybody who knows me says I’m a workaholic, and I’ve always got 75 irons in the fire, so it’ll probably just feel like normal,” she said with a laugh.

Part of her role will also include bringing poetry into communities.

“Taking the poetry to the community is absolutely important, especially now,” she said. “We need poetry more than ever. I’m of the Walt Whitman philosophy that poetry is for the people.”

Trimble dismisses the idea that poetry is only for academics.

“Poetry was really a way of keeping history. It was a way of ritual,” she said. “Every culture has poetry, and the poetry in every culture almost is poetry for the people.”

She urges people who think poetry isn’t for them to give it a try anyway.

“There are lots of different types of poetry in the world,” she said. “Just like some people love mystery novels and some people love romances, you have to find the poetry that speaks to you and trust and believe there is a poet out there writing to you.”

 

Mayor Woodfin Makes a Case for a More Walkable, Affordable Birmingham

By
Birmingham Times
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Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the city is kicking off a major transportation plan in partnership with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority called goBHM. (Adobe Stock)

By Mayor Randall Woodfin

When I was growing up in North Birmingham, I walked a lot of places. I would regularly walk to stores, a friend’s house, school, or a bus stop. I don’t walk as much today as I did back then, unfortunately. Too often, I feel that I need to drive to get where I need to go. And I think I’m not alone.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin

Based on census data, nearly all of us in the Birmingham region get to our jobs in a car. The Birmingham region is one of the most-car-dependent places in the country, and since we know the U.S. is one of the world’s most car-dependent countries, that means our city relies on cars more than most places on earth.

I’d like to build the case that we need more choices in how we travel. Cars can be great. If you’re fortunate enough to own a car, you’ve likely built a life that revolves around that mode of transportation. However, I also believe that if we build a world that assumes everyone will go everywhere in a car, that comes with more tradeoffs than we realize. Here are a few examples of things we’re missing out on:

  • More mobility options will allow us to have infrastructure that actually works. We can’t afford to maintain a world where we all drive everywhere. Car-oriented growth means that everything spreads out. That leads to bigger roads, and that requires more asphalt, striping, signals, signs, stormwater pipes, stormwater inlets, sidewalks, street lighting, landscaping, bridges, and more. It’s a very costly venture. My administration has proudly invested more than $100 million into paving during my first two terms in office. However, our backlog of infrastructure needs is massive and ever-growing. We know that more walkable cities are more compact and therefore are more affordable to maintain.
  • More mobility options will put money in our wallets. The American Automobile Association estimates that the average cost of car ownership in the United States is more than $12,000 per year, about $1,000 per month. Many households have more than one car. Imagine what an additional $1,000 per month would do for your household.
  • More mobility options will make us safer. Around 40 people die each year in the City of Birmingham in vehicle crashes; hundreds more in the city are severely injured. These numbers are much higher for the larger region. Many of us know someone in our lives who has been personally affected by a car crash. We don’t have to accept these tragedies as the cost of modern convenience. There are many examples of advanced vibrant competitive cities around the country and around the world where more people walk, take public transportation, and ride bikes. Those cities don’t have nearly the same rates of transportation-related death and injury that we have.
  • Providing mobility options will improve our health. In Alabama, we have some of the lowest health rankings in the country in almost any health metric you can name — heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and others. While walking is not a cure-all, it seems clear that if we provide more options for us to move our bodies throughout the day, we’ll have better health outcomes.
  • Providing mobility options raises quality of life for everyone. Driving doesn’t work for everyone. Many of our neighbors are too young, too old, physically unable or simply cannot afford the financial costs of operating their own vehicles. Yet, we know from a study by the Brookings Institute that people in Birmingham with cars have access to 100 times more jobs than people who rely on public transportation. The system we have today is leaving too many people stranded.
  • Providing mobility options helps the environment. Driving causes greenhouse gas emissions, excessive land consumption, and excessive energy consumption. In the United States, transportation is actually the leading generator of greenhouse gases. When we assume that everyone will drive cars, we build a world with larger roadways, intersections, private land developments, and larger parking lots. Even if we all ride in electric, fully-autonomous cars, a world built for automobiles will still have far too great of an impact on our environment.

I’d like to set a new vision for Birmingham’s future. It’s actually a future that resembles the way we’ve built cities for thousands of years. I’d like to make Birmingham walkable. I’d also like to strengthen our public transportation system and make us more bikeable too. And yes, I still want Birmingham to be accessible for cars.

Our kids should be able to walk to school or to grandma’s house. Catching a transit bus should be just as easy and convenient as driving. You should feel safe on a bicycle. I also don’t think it’s crazy to dream about a frequent and fast passenger rail connection from Birmingham to Atlanta. We can achieve these things.

To that end, we’re kicking off a major citywide transportation plan in partnership with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority called goBHM, and I’d like you to join me in shaping this effort. If you live in Birmingham, work in Birmingham, or regularly visit Birmingham, visit letsgobhm.com to learn more and to stay informed. Over the next year, we’ll be sharing information and hosting public meetings to create a strong transportation vision for the future. Walk along with us on this journey and lean in.

I look forward to running into you out on the sidewalk.

Randall Woodfin is the mayor of Birmingham. This is from his Substack article, ‘Let’s Go for a Walk, Birmingham.’

Birmingham City Council Voices Concerns Over Celebratory Gunfire; Police Respond

By
Birmingham Times
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Birmingham police say they are doing everything they can to keep residents safe after city leaders expressed frustration over celebratory gunfire. (File)

By Shane Trail | WBRC

Birmingham police say they are doing everything they can to keep residents safe after city leaders expressed frustration over celebratory gunfire they heard throughout the city on New Year’s Eve.

“We hear them, and we do understand,” said BPD Public Information Officer Sgt. LaQuitta Wade. “Because if it was the other way around, I would want someone to listen to me.”

WBRC was scheduled to meet with Birmingham Chief of Police Michael Pickett Thursday to discuss the city council’s concerns. When the time came for the interview, WBRC was informed that Pickett was unable to meet for the conversation.

On Friday, Jan. 2, BPD issued a report claiming incidents of celebratory gunfire were down 37% compared to New Year’s Eve of 2024. The report also says 4,688 rounds were fired city-wide — nearly 2,000 fewer than the previous year.

“I’m somewhat skeptical [of the reported number of rounds fired] just because of what I heard on New Year’s Eve,” District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams said during a city council meeting the following Tuesday, Jan 6.

Wade said the department used several new technologies to determine how many rounds were fired, but relied heavily on ShotSpotter.

Wade said using ShotSpotter data, BPD mapped where most celebratory gunfire happened during previous New Year’s holidays and deployed extra officers to those locations. She credited this strategy for the reported reduction of incidents in 2025.

“With the mapping and the technology and the strategy that we used, we felt as if we had success.”

Wade added that ShotSpotter can have difficulty distinguishing between gunshots and other loud noises the system might register, like fireworks.

Williams also demanded to see arrest numbers for celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve, saying he had also asked for arrest numbers for the 2024 New Year’s and never received them.

“I would like to know the actual arrest numbers. Because I don’t know how aggressive we were, but from what I heard, it did not seem that way,” he said Tuesday.

District 5 Councilor Darrell O’Quinn was also in favor of seeing how many arrests were made.

“I believe we need to put some people behind bars and make examples of them for this,” O’Quinn said. “That’s absolutely got to happen for this to change.”

When asked if the department had the number of arrests for celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve 2025, Wade said:

“The Special Operations Division may have those numbers, but that is something that we will discuss with [Councilor Williams] off-camera.”

Wade said BPD would share those arrest numbers if they became available.

“Celebratory gunfire is not OK,” said Wade. “There is a law in place where you cannot fire a weapon within the city limits of Birmingham. And that law will be in place any time, whether it’s New Year’s Eve, whether it’s today, or whether it’s tomorrow.”

Wade said the department understands there can be a disconnect between the number of recorded celebratory gunshots decreasing and the feeling Birmingham residents have about their safety.

“Everyone would want to have zero celebratory gunfire in their city all over this country,” said Wade. “The Birmingham Police Department will continue, year after year, to get better in their strategy. In technology. In mapping. To do everything that we can to protect the citizens of Birmingham.”

USPS Honors Phillis Wheatley, First Published African American Poet, With Black Heritage Stamp

By
Birmingham Times
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The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley, the first author of African descent in the American Colonies. (File)
usps.com

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp in Boston later this month is free and open to the public.

Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, Phillis Wheatley was enslaved but educated in the Wheatley household. Wheatley published her first collection, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” in 1773. This collection showcased her impressive mastery of various poetic forms, including hymns, elegies, and narrative verse, securing her place in history.

Freed from slavery that same year, she went on to correspond with figures such as George Washington, who praised her poetic talent.

Wheatley’s legacy continues to inspire generations, earning her the title “the mother of African American literature.” Before the Civil War, abolitionists used her accomplishments to affirm the intellectual capability of people of African descent and argue against slavery. Today schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country have been named for Wheatley, and she has been the subject of numerous inspirational books for children.

In 2003, a statue of the poet was included in a new Boston Women’s Memorial. The first full-length scholarly biography of Wheatley was published in 2011, with a second biographical study published in 2023, part of an ongoing effort to recognize her resilience in adversity.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing portrait by Kerry James Marshall.

The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. Attendees are encouraged to register at https://www.usps.com/philliswheatleystamp.

ACIPCO’s Nearly $800M Job Creating Project Gets Unanimous Support from Jeffco Commission

By
Birmingham Times
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ACIPCO, one of Birmingham’s oldest companies, expects to hire 80 new full-time employees as part of its $790 million investment. (File)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) has been in Birmingham since 1905 and is celebrating its 121st year. On Thursday, the Jefferson County Commission made sure the company won’t be leaving anytime soon.

The Commission voted unanimously to approve ACIPCO’s anticipated investment of $793.1 million in its North Birmingham facility that would switch over the company’s operations to electric-fired furnaces, reducing emissions by more than 90 percent.

Commissioners said they were pleased to provide an incentive deal which means about 80 jobs with $114,000 in annual wages.

The county approved incentives up to $320,000 that will take the form of a jobs grant payable in three installments and contingent on new employee wages.

“The employment opportunities associated with this project are vital for our residents,” said Commissioner Mike Bolin, the Commission liaison to Economic Development.” … I believe that ACIPCO is inclined to hire locally, which not only fosters community pride but also reduces absenteeism. Supporting our local workforce is a priority that benefits everyone.”

The development is a long-term project, one that will take four, five or six years to complete, according to officials.

John Hagelskamp, senior vice president of sales at ACIPCO, said that the company has embarked on four projects that are just under $800 million in value.

John Hagelskamp, senior vice president of sales at ACIPCO, addresses a Jefferson County Commission committee. (Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times)

“Who knows where that number will end up, but we’ve made a commitment to start those projects as soon as possible,” said Hagelskamp. “We will reduce emissions by changing our coke-fired cupola to electric furnaces. We will reduce — eliminate — the use of coke, which is a main source of greenhouse gasses.”

He added, “We make ductile iron pipe, diameters 4-inch through 64-inch, and we make oil and gas steel pipe 12-inch through 24-inch here in Birmingham. We do all sorts of other things around the country but … we want to stay in Birmingham and reinvest in Birmingham.”

ACIPCO’s anticipated investment of $793.1 million is second only to the $1.1 billion investment of J.M. Smucker Co. to build a manufacturing facility in McCalla at the Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park, Jeff Traywick, the county’s economic development specialist, told the commission.

Retaining businesses like ACIPCO is just as important as bringing in new ones, Bolin said.

Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin

“ACIPCO provides substantial employment and maintains relationships with numerous local suppliers, which supports many small businesses in our area,” the commissioner said. “Additionally, their presence strengthens our metal-making and processing sector, making Jefferson County an appealing location for manufacturers looking to establish close ties with our iron and steel industries.”

Bolin said the county is actively committed to attracting new, high-wage jobs. ” … We’re working to engage more working-age individuals in the workforce, improve our local small business ecosystem, and collaborate with community partners to enhance their ability to recruit new businesses to our area,” he said.

This ACIPCO announcement comes on the heels of a $60 million investment by KultureCity in Jefferson County last month and sets a positive tone heading into the new year, Bolin said. “These projects are just the beginning of several significant developments we anticipate announcing soon, including investments in financial services and manufacturing,” he said. “I have no doubt that the momentum will carry us into 2026 and beyond.”

Kennedi Spurling Brings Mindful Movements and Mobility to The Pilates Dwelling

By
Birmingham Times
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Kennedi Spurling is the owner of The Pilates Dwelling. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Ameera Steward | For The Birmingham Times

Originally from Adamsville, Ala., Kennedi Spurling is adding a new and active space to the city of Birmingham.

The Pilates Dwelling is a studio dedicated to cultivating an experience that supports strength, intention, and presence.

“I wanted to provide a space for people to come that made them feel loved on, that made them feel seen…understood…valued and like they’re more than just a dollar,” said 26-year-old Spurling, who has approximately 70 clients. “Pilates…just so happened [to be] the conduit in which that ‘loving on’ was able to occur.”

Her favorite part about Pilates is the intentionality that goes into the practice, she said. “[Entering] the new year, learning to be intentional in the studio is replicated in clients’ everyday life. They are more focused, practicing mindful movement and presence.”

It’s also important to stick with the practice year long and not just as a New Year’s resolution which will “improve mobility and control, core strength, improved posture, and increased body awareness,” she said.

More than a recent fitness trend, Pilates is a full-body, low-impact workout designed to boost core strength, mobility, and flexibility. According to The Pilates Center, “in developing a Pilates practice, you focus on breathwork, concentration, precision, flow, centering, and control in order to feel strong, conditioned, and flexible in both mind and body.”

Kennedi Spurling has added a new and active space to the city of Birmingham with the opening of The Pilates Dwelling. (Amarr Croskey Photos, For The Birmingham Times)

A Family of Dwellers

In 2007 Spurling’s family moved to Hoover where she attended Bumpus Middle School in Hoover and graduated from Hoover High School in 2017. She then studied political communication at Louisiana State University located in Baton Rouge, La.) with a minor in Spanish and graduated within three years in 2020. She decided on her course of study because of her father Antonio Spurling, an attorney as well as an entrepreneur.

“I grew up thinking that I wanted to be an attorney. So, when I went to college, I remember just trying to figure out what I wanted to do, and found the major, political communication,” she said. “I went there thinking I wanted to…be a crisis management advisor.”

After graduating, she considered law school, meaning her next step was to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). “I took the LSAT…maybe two or three times,” said Spurling. “I ended up waitlisted at the schools that I wanted to attend…two years in a row, and so I [said] ‘this is not where God wants me to be.’”

With that said she left the dream of being a lawyer behind and went directly into public relations working for a health care inpatient rehabilitation company called Encompass Health and the Centene Corporation — another health care company — which she left in July of 2025 to focus on the Pilates studio.

The love for Pilates came into play in 2021 when the workout became popular after actress, model, and entrepreneur Lori Harvey mentioned how Pilates changed her life during an interview with Essence Magazine at the 2023 Met Gala.

“Just like everybody else, I got into it [Pilates],” Spurling continued. “I was like ‘Oh I really like this.’ And I remember maybe my second or third time going to Pilates in Hoover …I felt something over my spirit saying ‘you could do this one day…this will be good for you.’”

That moment of clarity stuck with Spurling and she believed she could open her own studio causing her to stay in self-practice for a while until she was approached by another Pilates studio located in Cahaba Heights about their teacher training opportunities.

“I went through [the training] and [thought] this is a conduit into what I want to do. And then in January of this year I left there and [said] ‘I’m just going to do my own thing,” she added.

Being A Boss

The name ‘The Pilates Dwelling’ came a year in advance of Spurling actually opening the studio.

Just like her dad, Spurling’s mom — Marquita Spurling — is an entrepreneur. They own a company where they work to redevelop Ensley. Their company is called Dweller Construction Properties, “our family logo has always been around [the word dwell] and what it really means to dwell, remain for a time,” Spurling continued.

So when it came to her studio she asked herself what she wanted her studio to represent and “the idea of just being a dweller in whatever it is you’re doing stuck with me.”

Entrepreneurship runs through Spurling’s bloodline but she added that growing up she was always told she was bossy.

“I’m the only girl out of four boys and so quite naturally, you have to have a certain grit about yourself to even survive in a house of four boys,” she said. “And the entrepreneurial spirit was definitely something that was instilled in me growing up, but I wasn’t…saying ‘I have to work for myself…I think [it turned out] the way God envisioned.”

Spurling isn’t the oldest of all of her siblings but she is “mama number two,” she said. For example, she recalls a time when her youngest brother, 13-year-old Carter, asked to go outside. “My mom said yeah, and [Carter would say] ‘I’m going outside.’ And I’m like no you’re not,” she said.

Her oldest brother is named Tyren, 29; then there’s her; next is her brother Myles, 23; then there’s Harrison, 21; and the youngest is Carter.

Kennedi Spurling is the owner of The Pilates Dwelling. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

A Dweller’s Dream

“I’ve been…really amazed at the level of awareness that Pilates creates within the body,” she said. “You think you know your body…but then you really get into a Pilates class and through the different queuing and the flows that you go through, you really get the opportunity to…connect with your body in a way that you don’t get to when you’re just moving [throughout the day].”

The official opening of the studio was October 27 and “it’s a day that I will never forget.”

“I woke up that morning at like 4 a.m. and I remember getting ready and…I was just crying. I was just so overwhelmed,” Spurling said. “Just seeing how far God brought me through this whole process…from ideation to opening day, God has really been with me.”

During her first class on opening day she not only had new members but family members in the class such as her brother Myles and her fiancé Raymond.

Correcting The Narrative

Having her own studio entirely to herself has gifted her with the opportunity to “steward the people who come to The Pilates Dwelling.”

“I think from what we see across the United States, there are just so many things that are happening among our culture and within our community that lead people to feel like the Black dollar doesn’t matter, that…we don’t matter,” Spurling expressed. “And I think that this is an opportunity to fix and correct that narrative.”

Not just within the United States, but also within the Pilates community. She said there’s been a lot of discourse regarding inclusivity and diversity within the Pilates community and “I think … this is an opportunity to correct the narrative of where we [the Black community] belong in the health and wellness space.”

With that said, Spurling said that she opened the studio for those who have a sense and yearning for community. So many people get caught up in the “busyness of every day.”

“We play so many roles,” she added. “I really created it for people who are looking for a space to just come…let who you are shine through and drop all the titles of who you are to everybody else at the door; and at the core of who you are, that’s where we meet you.”

“I think…each one of [her clients] are literally a godsend. So I can’t wait for that number to grow,” Spurling said. “I’d love to be able to take what it is I have here and expand it across Alabama [and] into other states.”

That’s a long-term goal. Her short-term goal is to “continue loving and getting to know the people who I experience on a daily basis.”

“Every single day my goal…is how can I really show love to the people who are here right now and not focusing on what’s next?” she said. “Taking the time to be where my feet are…is my main focus.”

She wants the community to not only know that The Pilates Dwelling is open but that it’s for everyone.

“It’s a place for all bodies, all people, all persons – male, female, other…If you’re looking for a space to just love on you and really show you that intentionality that we all want out of life, that is this place,” that is The Pilates Dwelling.

The Pilates Dwelling offers six classes a day. On Monday’s classes are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on Tuesdays and Thursdays classes are from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 pm; on Wednesdays classes are from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on Fridays classes are from 6 a.m. to noon; on Saturdays classes are from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; and on Sundays closed.

Classes start at $30 for drop-ins or one-time classes; $119 for 4 classes a month, $189 for 8 classes a month, and $219 for an unlimited membership.

Visit The Pilates Dwelling at 212 20th Street N, Suite 203, Birmingham, Ala. or download their app “TPD” to sign up for classes. IG: ThePilatesDwelling; TikTok: ThePilatesDwelling 

Javacia Harris Bowser: ‘When I’m Practicing Pilates I’m Fully Focused … There’s no Room for Worrying’

By
Birmingham Times
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Kennedi Spurling has added a new and active space to the city of Birmingham with the opening of The Pilates Dwelling. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Javacia Harris Bowser | For The Birmingham Times

When I heard about The Pilates Dwelling, I was eager to check out a Black woman-owned studio. I attended my first class at TPD on a frigid December morning, but about halfway through the session, I’d started to sweat.

Javacia Harris Bowser

TPD is owned by Kennedi Spurling, who opened the boutique Pilates studio in downtown Birmingham in October of 2025. While Pilates is a practice that’s about being mindful of your form – your core, your spine, and more – Spurling wanted a place that fostered something deeper.

Though I’ve been practicing Pilates for a couple of years now, I opted for the beginner level Foundations class just in case TPD style was different from what I was used to. Smart choice. The first thing I noticed was that the Reformers at TPD looked different from the ones at my home studio. (A Pilates Reformer is a multi-functional, bed-style piece of equipment with a sliding carriage, springs, straps, and a footbar, that’s used for strengthening, stretching, and balancing and provides adjustable resistance and support for total body workouts.)

Though both the Reformer and the sequences of the moves of the Foundations class were different from what I’ve grown accustomed to, Spurling and the other women in the class made sure I always knew what to do. When needed, Spurling gently corrected my form. The woman to my left showed me how to adjust the springs on the Reformer. The woman to my right made me feel welcome with smiles and casual conversation before class started.

“I think that people come into this space and they feel so much love for me from the time that they walk in the door that they just want to give it to other people,” Spurling said when asked about the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the studio.

In TPD Foundations class, we performed the exercises with slow intention, and Spurling offered modifications for nearly every move. While the slow pace helps with mindfulness, it doesn’t make the moves easy. Slowing down an exercise brings a greater test of balance and strength.  But the playlist kept me going. When Beyonce’s Coachella performance of “Diva” came through the speakers, my muscles got the energy boost they needed to press on!

The thing I love most about Pilates is that it forces me to be where my feet are. This is the case no matter what studio I visit. When I’m practicing Pilates, I’m fully focused on the moves my body is making, so there’s no room for worrying about work, family matters, or anything else.

“With the way that lives are just so busy these days for each and every person, I feel like having that moment for presence, for just you, is super important,” Spurling said, adding that she believes the mind-to-muscle connection encouraged in Pilates can be useful beyond the studio.

“I think that as people take that principle of intentionality from here and really learn what intentionality means, they can leave and apply it in different areas,” she said.

For years, there has been conversation online and beyond about a lack of diversity within Pilates, even though Kathleen Stanford Grant, a Black dancer and choreographer, studied directly under Joseph Pilates and taught the Pilates method for more than 50 years. She also created Before the Hundred, a technique designed to prepare the body for the Pilates exercises. In the Pilates world, Grant is not only considered a first-generation Pilates teacher but is also revered as a pioneer and innovator.

At The Pilates Dwelling, I found myself in a class of all Black women for the first time. But Spurling stressed that The Pilates Dwelling is a place for all.

“My focus was really more so on creating a community that would make each and every person that walks through these doors feel loved and feel seen and feel valued,” she said. “When you come here, you can be Black, Brown, blue, white, gray, purple, red and we’re going to love on you. We’re going to make you feel heard, and you can leave here with that sense that you belong no matter where it is that you go.”

The Pilates Dwelling is located at 212 20th St N Suite 203, Birmingham, AL 35203. Learn more at www.thepilatesdwelling.com.

Javacia Harris Bowser is an award-winning freelance journalist and essayist and the founder of See Jane Write.

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